[apostate]

Perhaps regulating a cap is better than banning the practice outright. If the max price is equal to the minutes left on the meter * fare per minute, the seller will never get back more than they put in. They will just be selling back the unused minutes, which can be useful if someone puts a few hours on the meter because they don't know how long they will need it. This would prevent scalping, and if parking is considered a public good, it will bring the minutes paid for / minutes used ratio closer to 1, which should be the goal. I understand that it's probably not the goal of the app creators, but it is a reasonable compromise. Of course, this type of efficiency means more social benefit and lower revenues for the city, so that's not likely to happen.

[netcan]

regulating = endorsing.

Regulating badly is usually worse than not regulating at all.

[apostate]

I tend to agree with that sentiment.

I suppose I was just thinking about the city I live in. Here, the meter prints out a receipt that the driver leaves on the dash of the car. People often will give the receipt to someone else when they are leaving their spot. Of course this practice is illegal, but I don't think it should be if the spot was paid for. Of course, it would be douchey if people started selling these tickets for high prices (that would be seeking rent from a public good), but I would have no problem buying a ticket off of a guy who wants to get his remaining three bucks back.

But I suppose you are right, there is no "good way" to get something between price gouging anarchy and outright banning of the practice.